“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

Marianne was someone who greatly inspired Gabrielle Berstein, Berstein being someone who greatly inspired me. Therefore I wanted to put her name out there. And though I might not agree with all her views, I sill find a great portion of her writing to be eye opening and healing- regardless of which religious background one follows, if any at all. On her website you will find great services including morning mediations, journal entries dedicated to current issues, events, quotes, poems, and much more.

of a very high standard;excellentThis is the denotative meaning of the word beautiful.Does this definition say anything about size? NO.It just goes to show how turned around views are of the term beautiful. This definition says nothing about there being limits on beauty. It can be inside, outside, here, there, everywhere. You are beautiful, we are beautiful, every single person is beautiful in some way, shape, or form.so my question is: What doesbeautiful mean to you?

Sometimes we don't want to write, we don't want to paint, we don't want to take pictures...sometimes we get stuck and don't know what to do for fun anymore.When life gets glum and leaves you feeling lost and consumed by your thoughts, worries etc. one can find themselves loosing motivation, failing to see the beauty of life. Now this obviously isn't the answer to resolving one's concerns...but I thought it would be nice to put the idea of recreating something new out of the old out there. Sometimes we buy things to fill a void, to make us feel better, but the feeling is always temporary. Instead of spending it can be quite the interesting turnout to create something ourselves. Either something that inspired us and we know with just a little effort we can transform our former into something similar, or something completely different! One doesn't even need to have a set idea, just go with the flow and let your mind take you into a fun and therapeutic mode of being. It might just leave you feeling proud and inspired.

Poetry can be a good way to tap into the emotions one is currently feeling. When all seems to be boiling up inside and journaling is just not something you want to do at the moment, maybe poetry can lend a helping hand. We can all play with words, we can all create poetry. The point is not to try an attain perfection or make each line rhyme, but rather have your unique expression come through. Poetry can spark imagination, it can both heal and lead into something that will help take away focus from the current thoughts that trouble you. I do not mean "take away" in the sense of blocking out the emotions, we all know that doesn't work, and for those who think it does...it will catch up to you. What I actually mean is that what fees like a block out is unconsciously being worked on through the use of this exercise; it is in-directly associated with that which impedes your thoughts, thus healing one's wounds. One can be as creative as they choose- having soothing music playing in the background, creating a painting out of your poem or a dance, creating a poem book etc. Be as free as you want, let your body and soul loose...let them dance and sing the song of poetry.

Remember that writing can reveal things deeply buried in your unconscious, but don't over think it, just write. Poetry of course is just one form of writing, journaling is a fantastic way to uncover your thoughts as well. One can also choose to write in the form of music lyrics or through the creation of a blog. Explore the possibilities and you may come to discover some newfound talents!

~Crafting the raw material gives a shape and purpose to life, base metal is turned to gold.

In poetry, anything goes on paper.

All the rules that apply in waking life are thrown out the window.

A writer can capture an entire generation or era in a single line of poetry.

Poetry can cover emotion, history, relationships, logic, learning, and a myriad other things.

Poetry has no bounds, like the universe or love.

Poetry has limitations in traditions, but in theory there are no rules.

Poetry can be a way of communicating with God, or any other religious entity in the world's myriad of belief systems.

Poetry is a universal form of connection with other minds.

Poetry is divine.

Poetry is a way to communicate, self express, differentiate, unify, self-assert.

Poetry has no city limits, like the universe or love.

Poetry is succinct, charged, compact, and usually laced with intoxicating concepts.

Art Therapy - it is the changes in your body when you become completely absorbed in creating...a form of meditation. Every form of art can be a form of therapy- writing, poetry, song, music, dance, painting (with fingers-sponges and carved potatoes if you like), stenciling, tracing, drawing, crafting, cooking, sewing, scrapbooking, woodburning, photography, video, performing, comedy, and website design -these are just some examples. Explore your medium. Let yourself go, you will be attracted to what will give you satisfaction.

Our bodies need to heal and they do this best when in a state of deep relaxation. Together or apart, art and music can bring the body into its natural state of balance and harmony, so it can best do what it was meant to do. Many of us, when creating, become so absorbed that we fall naturally into that "altered" state. It reveals the sub-conscious mind, exposing the emotions that we were not ready to face or couldn't yet express consciously. The images in paintings, drawings etc. can be seen as some sort of code- kind of like dreams, a deeper expression.

Sometimes words limit us, sometimes there are no words for the emotions we feel, sometimes our grief or anger is so deep that we subconsciously block the expression of it for fear it will overwhelm us. Using art is a way to get there, to naturally heal, to refuse the ego's interference. Once we can see it, then we can begin to understand it, and our relationship to it is altered. Let art be your souls way of speaking.

Edvard Munch said:

"We want more than a mere photograph of nature. We do not want to paint pretty pictures to be hung on drawing-room walls. We want to create, or at least lay the foundations of, an art that gives something to humanity. An art that arrests and engages. An art created of one's innermost heart."

-He paints, or rather regards, things in a way that is different from that of other artists. He sees only the essential, and that, naturally, is all he paints. For this reason Munch’s pictures are as a rule ‘not complete’, as people are so delighted to discover for themselves. Oh, yes, they are complete. His complete handiwork. Art is complete once the artist has really said everything that was on his mind, and this is precisely the advantage Munch has over painters of the other generation, that he really knows how to show us what he has felt, and what has gripped him, and to this he subordinates everything else.

Even though we did not discuss Edvard Munch and his works in class, his words had a profound impact on me and my journey this semester. I myself had not heard of him before the start of the term, or even after weeks into it, but when I was finally introduced- a greeting long overdue, I was overcome with the strangest feeling. You see, when I choose to do my action project- self-expression of emotions onto canvas, I was unable to formulate words to describe what I truly meant. No matter how hard I tried to describe it to others, the way I felt just couldn't be translated. And so when I discovered this brilliant man I was overwhelmed with gratitude, he worded so fluidly what I kept failing to find words for. I was not only glad to find stubble upon the words of a man who knew exactly how I felt, but I was ecstatic and thankful to see that someone had spread the word, had passed on valid and influential information for current and all generations to come.

Give yourself the freedom to express what's inside you. Everyonehas healing to do, there is a way out, but first one must revisit and recount the problem, not so as to stay stuck in it, but as a way to release yourself from it.

-Journaling -- either words or art (or both)

So if you find yourself in physical or emotional pain, if you're stressed at the end of your work day, if you're going through a difficult time, don't let the tensions build up. Use the art form of your choice and express your feelings, release the pain. Let the art heal you. Use it on a regular basis as "preventive medicine." It may sound too simple or easy, but it works, and we even have the scientific studies to assuage the skeptic in you. So, go . . . Create! Heal!- Elissa Ruccia

Enhancing Creativity Through Exploration

There are times in your creative life when your ideas seem stale. It's "same ol' same ol'," and nothing you come up with seems to excite you. You need some new inspiration. A great way to prime the pump is to go exploring.

One of the prominent qualities of inventors is their curiosity -- their drive to search, to know more, to take things apart and see how they tick. By exploring, you can stretch your imagination and vision, find new ideas and give new life to old ones.

-Take a walk through familiar places, but this time, take the time to stop and really look. Engage all your senses. Notice the sounds, the smells. Touch things, feel the textures. Try a food you've never tried before. If you're in the city, look at the buildings above eye level. You'll find lots of interesting architectural designs, old signs or carvings in the facade, the odd gargoyle, and perhaps some interesting characters hanging out the windows shouting to the neighbors. Bring along the video camera and record what you see.

-Explore parts of your town that you don't usually go to. What do you see? How does it make you feel to be there? Is there a reason you avoid this area, or is a place you'd want to come back to?

-Hang out in a public place -- perhaps the park or a coffee bar -- and talk to people. Hear their stories. Ask questions. Do more listening than talking.

-Take a nature walk, but bring along a magnifying glass or loupe. A flower or leaf is a completely different experience seen close up.

-When you're going about your daily chores, change your routine or take a different route. Stay aware, rather than going on automatic pilot, and see what you discover.

-If you have a broken or outdated appliance, take it apart to see what's inside, what interesting shapes and textures you might find. If you're doing collage, you might even want to incorporate a few of the pieces!

-Get on the Internet and just follow links to see where they lead you.

-Spend some time without a schedule. Take off your watch. Spend a day or a week going where your heart leads you. Follow your eyes, your ears, your nose -- kind of like hyperlinking *without* the Internet. Be willing to go down a dead end and turn around.

-Explore using a different art form than usual. If you're a painter, photograph. If you're an actor, sketch. Write stories about your explorations. Experiment with sound and movement. Take an improvisation class. Get your hands in some clay.

-Visit museums, historic sites and even theme parks. You can pick up the feel of a particular location or period that you can use in your writing, acting, painting. As you walk through the pyramids at Giza in Egypt, or the Temple of Dendor at the Metropolitan Museum, you can imagine what it might have been like to live among these structures. In an ancient graveyard, speculate on who the people were and what their lives were like. At the natural history museum, picture yourself coming face to with a dinosaur. Browse the art museum and put yourself in Monet's gardens, at the ballet with Degas, or spending Sunday afternoon on the Isle of Grand Jatte with Seurat.

--When we're trying to create with a deadline, we can become stifled in our creativity. And there are times when we're simply bored with what we've been doing. Exploring is a great way to open up new avenues and bring a breath of fresh air to your work and your life.

Visualization:

In my mind's eye I see myself surrounded with the light and power of greatness. I imagine this dynamic energy flowing through my mind, emotions, and physical body. I see myself thinking great thoughts, feeling great emotions, and doing great deeds. For a moment I imagine what my life would be like as I express my inner greatness in every thing I do. On my mental screen I see myself celebrating with my friends the greatness of life being expressed in all of us. I combine these images with joy and let them go, knowing that they will create the good things I am visualizing and thinking.

Jessica Weiner is this generation’s “Go-to Girl” for self-esteem! Whether she is hosting a seminar for mothers and daughters on today’s pressure to be beautiful, writing her monthly columns for Seventeen MagazineandMSN.com, or speaking out on programs like Oprah, CNN, or The Today Show, Jess motivates women and girls around the globe to develop the tools for living a more confident life!

Women and girls everywhere have opened up to Jess through her books, speaking engagements, and media appearances. She is a best-selling Author, Self-Esteem Expert, and Advice Columnist who really understands her subject matter having overcome many of today's tough issues herself. She courageously shares her wisdom through her books "A Very Hungry Girl" and "Life Doesn't Begin 5 Pounds From Now."She offers raw disclosure of those experiences in her first book, “A Very Hungry Girl”, which describes the struggle in her teen years with body image, eating disorders and depression. Jess was also inspired to write her second book, “Life Doesn’t Begin 5 Pounds From Now”, to further explore how low self- image controls the way women think about their health, wealth, family, career, and relationships. She is currently working on her third book aimed at helping mothers raise truly confident girls.

She offers advice on various self-esteem topics ranging from body image to relationships, friendships, and family issues. She oozes with authenticity and her honest manner of self-disclosure and compassion make Jess a celebrated public speaker who has presented to some of the nation's most prestigious universities, institutes and Fortune 500 corporations.

She is alsocurrently The Chief Creative Officer for Talk to Jess, LLC (TTJ), and Founder of the Actionist® Network. TTJ is a multi-platform company creating media programs that focus on storytelling for social change. TTJ also offers consulting services for brands, individuals and companies who desire to reach a female demographic with an authentic and energetic message of empowerment. The Actionist Network is a global online community that recognizes and connects individuals and organizations making a difference in the lives of others. To honor those people who choose to make a difference, Jess has created the monthly Actionist Newsletter. Jess intrinsically understands the core issues impacting women and girls today and comes to her wisdom organically through her own experiences.

Her unique story and prestigious career have been featured by hundreds of international media outlets and she was recently named by Forbes.com as one of the 14 Power Women to Follow on Twitter!

Also: Check out the Jess Weiner page I have provided. The link to the page (as with all other page links) is to your top right. From there you will find website access to everything Jessica Weiner!